Convertible skirt, cape, and umbrella device



May 25; 1943, s. FURMAN 2,319,983

CONVERTIBLE SKIRT, CAPE, AND UMBRELLA DEVICE Filed Aug. 27. 1941 I INVENT OR.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 25, 1943 CONVERTIBLE SKIRT, CAPE, AND UlVl'BRELLA DEVICE I Sol Furman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 27, 1941, Serial No. 408,466

2 Claims.

This invention relates to convertible garment and umbrella devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means whereby a skirt, cape or similar garment can be releasablyassociated with an umbrella frameto form an operative cover for the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is inexpensive to manufacture, convenient in use, simple and reliabie in operation, and durable, compact, and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designated by. the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a skirt embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation showing a cape embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective enlarged View of a thimble for an umbrella rib.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified thimble according to the invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View showing the garment and umbrella frame according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts in section showing the thimble of Fig. 5 in position for engagement with the umbrella rib.

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the rib and thimble in engaged position.

The advantages of the invention as here outa skirt embodying the invention and adapted for use as a cover for an umbrella, as hereinafter described. In its general aspects, this skirt is made of any suitable cotton, silk, or rayon yarns or mixtures thereof, or of elastic fabrics. It may have any suitable number of gores ll, interconnected along seam lines l2 or the like. Preferably the number of gores is such that there is a seam line [2 for each umbrella rib that is disposed in alignment therewith. These gores may extend from the very bottom l3 of the skirt to the waist band Hi, the latter forming the waist receiving top opening l5. Extending along a side of the skirt is an opening from 3 to IE as defined by the detachable closure means IS. The latter may comprise a slide fastener, hooks and eyes, snap fasteners, or buttons and buttonholes, or any other suitable fastener; hence the closure means is shown schematically to denote any of these, although for many purposes the slide fastener will be best.

According to the present invention the skirt H3 embodies the means for releasable securement to an umbrella frame. Such means may include a contractile or contractible means, which may include an elastic band, though preferably I employ a draw string means H. The latter may include a female portion, such as loops or a hem l8 through which passes a ribbon or cord l9 adapted to be knotted or tied in a bow as at 20. This drawstring means is preferably spaced below the top opening I5, as at the lower edge of the waist band it. It serves to aid in retaining the skirt on the wearer, but its principal purpose is to cause the band M to snugly hug around the shaft of the umbrella as will be clear hereinafter. Along the bottom l3 of the skirt are secured thimbles 25 for receiving the tips of umbrella ribs; these thimbles may be secured at the inside or outside of the skirt, preferably the former, and they are attached by stitches 22 at the seams E2, so that the latter afford a reenforcement for the securement. A typical thimble is shown in Fig. 4, being formed like a ferrule, closed at its lower end, and having an annular neck or recess 23 for receiving the stitches 22. This thimble may be made of metal, plastic or other composition, but it will be understood that any suitable type of thimble can be used, of which the one shown is merely illustrative.

In Fig. 3 is shown a cape 24 embodying the invention, and being in all important respects similar to the garment ill. may be made of like materials, and may have similar gores 25 and seams 26, of suitable num- Thus the cape 24 her as above explained. Also there is an opening which includes a radial opening 27 extending from the bottom 28 to a central point of the garment at which there is an opening 29 defined by a neckband or collar 30. If desired, shoulder portions 3| may be provided. A draw string means 32 may be exactly like that at I! and may be disposed in a similar manner below the neckband 30, with a knot or bow tied as at 33. Along the opening 2! there is a detachable fastener which may include a row of buttons 34 and buttonholes 35 therefor, but these are merely illustrative of the general closure means such as It), which may include a slide fastener, hooks and eyes, and snap fasteners, as already stated. Along the bottom 28 are secured thimbles 2|, stitched at 22, at the reenforcing seams 26, all as in the case of the skirt IB. Thus the cape 24 may be used as a cover for an umbrella, with the draw string means 32 causing the adjacent part to snugly hug around the umbrella shaft, while the ribs engage the thimbles 2|. When thus used, in the case of both garments H3 and 24, the detachable closure means such as 5 and 34, 35 is of course closed. Obviously these garments may be made in different styles, colors and designs to afford attractive and pleasing articles of wear. Moreover, the thimbles such as 2| may add a little weight to the garments to prevent them from blowing around excessively in the wind, but such weight may be so small as to cause no discomfort.

A desirable feature of the invention may reside in making the garments I and 24 of Water repellent fabrics, so that they shall not Wet, whereby the garments may be used as umbrella covers in the rain or as garments without any inconvenience, discomfort, or loss of time in drying.

A modified umbrella rib thi-mble is shown in Fig. 5, at 36, the same having a bore 33a, terminating in a closed end 31 and a slot 38 from the open end to a point spaced from the closed end 37. This may be made of a slightly resilient material such as plastic to permit the umbrella ribs to be laterally snapped into the thimble, which may spread at the slot 38', the end of the tib seating in the laterally closed portion of the bore at the bottom 31. Such a thimble 36 will facilitate the mounting and removal of a cover relative to the'umbrella frame, as will be apparent hereinafter. For securement, the thimble 36 may have eyes 39 whereby it can be sewn to the cover or garment At 48- is shown a device embodying the invention. This may comprise any umbrella frame 6|, here shown in an illustrative diagrammatic sense. This frame may include a shaft 42 having a handle 43 and a slidable ferrule or sleeve M. The latter may have a collar 45 to which are pivotally connected the radial struts 46. The latter are pivotally connected at 41 to the resilient radial ribs 48, which are pivotally connected at their upper or inner ends to a disc or shoulder 49 that is fixed on the shaft 42. Ove'rlying the ribs 48 is a cover 59. which consists of a garment that is either the skirt or the cape 24'. The thimbles 21. .are seen engaged with the tips of the umbrella tibs 48, and the draw string means may denote either that at I! or 32, causing the garment to snugly hug around the upper end portion of the shaft 42, leaving an upstanding flare portion 52, which may be either the waist band M or the neckband 30. The radial closure means 53, indicative of that at IE or 34, is of course closed, and thus the umbrella is complete. The gores as at H correspond in general to the spaces between the ribs 48, with the gore seams overlying the ribs.

The use of the thimble 35 is illustrated in Figs, 7 and 8 and it permits an increased tensioning of the cover or garment 50 on the umbrella frame. With thimbles such as 2|, the ribs 48 are first engaged, and then the draw string means is tightened. But a superior tension can clearly be obtained if the draw string means is first tightened, and the cover or garment 53 then applied, as with the thimbles 35, because then the cover is stretched separately at each rib. In general, the latter has a tip 54 of reduced size which can be sprung through the slot 38 laterally into the resilient thimble, to reliably seat in the circumferentially closed end 31, preventing accidental lateral release.

It will now be clear that I have provided a skirt and cape, adapted for detachable mounting on an umbrella frame to form a cover of a complete; operative umbrella, or to form a garment as desired, and that in this manner space is conserved and interchangeability secured with the resultant products being made in different styles, designs and constructions, and being convenient in use, and durable and efficient to a high degree. In the accomplishment of these purposes, a skirt may be used which does not have a side opening, but is permanently continuous all around. Then again, the rib engaging thimbles need not be positioned at the gore seams, but may be intermediate thereof and may be positioned at any suitable elevation above the bottom of the skirt or cape. As an added utility, the umbrella frame may be employed as a Walking stick, by removing the garment cover and collapsing the frame and then removably inserting it into a tubular tightly fitting sleeve of a suitable flexible fabric to thus conceal the ribs and related parts of the umbrella frame as may be required.

the sole cover for said frame and being mounted on the frame for removal for use as a garment, the latter having body fitting portions and having draw-string means mounted on one of said portions to cause the garment to snugly fit a part of the wearers bod-y, said draw string means being located adjacent to but spaced from one end of the garment, elements detachably engaging the free ends of the ribs mounted on the other end of the garment, said draw string means being tightened around the base portion of the shaft with the garment overlying the ribs, the end portion of the garment adjacent to the draw string means extending beyond the latter toward the free endof the base portion of the shaft,

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said elements constitute tubular members closed at their outer ends and having longitudinal slots so that the ribs can be laterally inserted through said slots into the members by resilient expansion of the latter for a snapengagement between the members and the ribs.

SOL FURMAN. 

